South Australian beverage company Edenvale provides a range of alcohol-removed wines.Source:istock

Sometimes, we all just need a drink — even pregnant women — and while it obviously can’t be alcoholic, mum-to-be’s have discovered a new way to still “feel” like they’re enjoying their favourite glass of wine.

From sparkling rosés or rieslings to fancy chardonnay, an Aussie beverage company has mastered a formula that has not only attracted pregnant women but health-conscious people as well.

Developed through the same process as wine, before the alcohol is removed, Edenvale’s range brings with it a taste of the real thing — and nearly half the calories of normal wine.

“It’s high in antioxidants, there’s not as much sugar, but most importantly, it delivers a real wine experience.”

Edenvale provides a range of wines with the alcohol removed.Source:Supplied

Described as a “sophisticated non-intoxicating lifestyle beverage” the brand, the only one of its kind in Australia, has built its reputation focusing solely on delivering a beverage without the hangover. It has 11 alcohol removed wines including red and white.

“The critical part is people who don’t want to or can’t drink for health and religious purposes can still feel part of an occasion and not excluded from social events.”

The average finished alcohol level of the Edenvale range is approximately 0.2-0.3 per cent alcohol/volume, a level similar to that found in natural fruit juices.

Mr Bright, of the South Australia-based company, said it all comes down to the delicate alcohol extraction technology — a spinning cone column — which captures aromas and flavours naturally.

“The cone has been designed to reduce thermal impact by operating at low temperatures and with a product residence time of only 25 seconds. This ensures that the quality of the alcohol removed/de-alcoholised wine is not damaged in any way.”

He said with the removal of alcohol comes a massive reduction in calories.

“For example, the removal of 13 per cent alcohol by volume translates to over 60 per cent calorie reduction.”

And as the number of health-conscious Aussies increases, Edenvale is taking it as an opportunity to ride the trend.

Last year alone saw the company’s sales go up 37 per cent.

The non-alcoholic wines contain less than 0.5 per cent alcohol — levels similar to those found in fresh fruit juices.Source:Supplied

Other companies in the wine sector developing low-alcohol and organic wines include Angove Family Winemakers which reported plans to convert to organic vineyards, plus Trentham Estate which relaunched its low-alcohol wine range to appeal to health-conscious women — according to a 2018 study into the proliferation of “healthy” alcohol products in Australia.

Mother-of-two and founder of The Healthy Mummy, Rhian Allen, who recently released, The Busy Mum’s Guide To Weight Loss, was a big fan of non-alcoholic drinks when she was pregnant.

“I didn’t feel like I was missing out when I was out socially — my go-to was cranberry with sparkling water with twist of lime or a fun mocktail complete with umbrella,” she told news.com.au.

But Ms Allen said she was a bigger fan of experimenting with herbal teas — especially cold herbal teas.

“There are so many delicious fruit herbal teas and it is great to make a big batch, then when it is cooled add ice cubes and fresh fruit for a yummy, refreshing, healthy and non-alcoholic drink.”

Edenvale, which added to its non-alcoholic range with a pinot noir and sparkling shiraz late last year, also offers sparkling grape juices and now exports to six countries.

Edenvale’s website states that its wines are safe to drink during pregnancy and breastfeeding with the alcohol levels similar to those found in fresh fruit juices.

However, it states that if you have any concerns, to seek medical advice prior to consuming the product.

Edenvale process of removing alcohol.Source:Supplied

HOW ALCOHOL IS REMOVED:

Edenvale removes the alcohol at the final stage of the winemaking process, leaving behind the health benefits of fermentation but cutting out the alcohol content:

• finished wine is fed into the top of the spinning cone column

• rotating cones use centrifugal force to transform the wine into a thin film

• nitrogen gas is fed into the bottom of the column. When it comes into contact with the film, it extracts the wine’s aromas and flavours and protects them from oxidisation

• the remaining liquid is passed through the column again, at a higher temperature to remove the alcohol

• the flavour and aroma essences are recombined with the de-alcoholised wine and blended with unfermented varietal grape juice (to replace lost volume), creating a wine with less than 0.5 per cent alcohol by volume